Figure 1. Used paper products waiting to be recycled at a Paper Recycling Plant
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE—the official motto for creating a healthier environment. Today, everyone is focused on recycling goods but what about reducing consumption, reusing products and manufacturing products with the capability to outlast a warranty? Recycling is the least important of the three “R’s.” While reducing consumption and reusing products actually decreases the amount of resources—including energy—used, recycling just barely delays the inevitable exploitation of our natural resources. Many times, recycling is not even practical for products such as paper and plastic, which can generally only be down-cycled. Not only are these products down-cycled but the cost to recycle these products can outweigh the feasibility of recycling the products at all. Recycling also requires more fossil fuels for the increase in transportation of waste. “On average, extensive recycling is 35 percent more costly than conventional disposal, and basic curbside recycling is 55 percent more costly than conventional disposal [ECOWORLD, 2008].” Cost also accounts for resources used in the recycling and producing process.
In an article written by the University of Oregon, the process of recycling newspaper was described. The paper goes through a chemical wash to dissolve the ink and goes through a bleaching process. Since the pulp loses its strength, fresh pulp is added to the mix [University of Oregon, 1998]. The chemicals used for de-inking and whitening the paper is hardly environmentally-friendly. Detergent is used to remove the ink from the paper while hydrogen peroxide is used to bleach the paper. Both chemicals are recognized as relatively harmful to the environment. In a test conducted by the EPA, more toxic chemicals were found in the recycling process for paper than the virgin manufacturing process for paper [ECOWORLD, 2008]. The different grades of paper and making sure they are properly sorted also hinders the effectiveness of recycling. Only certain types of paper can be recycled into graphic paper or packaging. The process for using recycled paper and for using virgin paper is very similar, meaning that it does not necessarily save any energy in the production process [paperonline, 2010]. Of all the paper sorted for recycling, only about 55% of it is actually recycled [Library of Economics and Liberty, 2008].
There is also a wide misconception about recycling plastics. Like paper, used plastic can only be down-cycled. Only about 9% plastic sorted for recycling is actually recycled [Library of Economics and Liberty, 2008]. Even when plastic is recycled, a considerable percentage of virgin plastic must be added in the manufacturing process. In Berkeley, CA, none of the plastic sorted for recycling is actually used for that purpose. Much of the used plastic that is processed is manufactured into 100% non-recyclable materials such as plastic “wood.” Plastic recycling programs also allow consumers to believe that they can buy more goods since their packaging will be recycled anyway, ultimately leading to an increase in waste as opposed to a decrease. It even costs more to process used plastic as opposed to virgin plastic [Ecology Center]. The “chasing arrows” stamp signifying a plastic’s recyclability is also entirely misleading considering it has more to do with identifying the type of plastic in the bottle or packaging as opposed to its environmental consciousness. Many of the bottles with this symbol cannot actually be recycled. Companies are allowed to place this stamp on a plastic bottle or container even if it can only be recycled in very few locations or settings, considering the stamp is not regulated by any form of government [sustainablog, 2007]. In a peer-reviewed journal, researchers stated that the plastic recycling process is currently pursued as a “cradle-to-grave” process and that there are steps that should be taken to change it to a “cradle-to-cradle” process so that fossil-fuels are not completely consumed [S.M. Al-Salem, P. Lettieri and J. Baeyens, 2009].
For aluminum, while 40% of used aluminum can be recycled to make new products, it is being used considerably less than plastic due to cost-effectiveness. However, recycling aluminum saves about 92% of energy that would be used extracting the raw material from bauxite ore. Manufacturing aluminum into new products also get the new products back to the consumer market in as little as 6 weeks. The only other issue with using recycled aluminum is that it must be painstakingly cleared of any impurities before it can be used [EPA, 2009]. Other metals can be just as eco-effective as aluminum.
Glass is the most efficiently and effectively recycled material compared to paper, plastics, and metals. Unlike the other materials, glass is genuinely 100% recyclable—no down-cycling—and can be recycled continually. It takes less energy to heat than virgin glass because it melts at a lower temperature. It also makes up approximately 80% – 90% of the material used to manufacture new glass products and can be placed quickly back “on the shelves [earth 911, 2010].” The EPA reported that while only about 23% of glass was recycled, between 1980 and 2008, the amount of glass that is recycled has increased by 2.05 million tons. Used glass is also less expensive than virgin glass, making it more energy-efficient and cost effective [EPA, 2010].
In conclusion, while paper and plastic products are most widely used, they have the least ability to be recycled. The labeling on plastic bottles is also very misleading. In addition, while these products have the ability to be recycled, they use up more resources than just disposing of them and using virgin materials. As a solution, society needs to focus more on the first two words in the recycling motto: reduce and reuse. Also, we should start leaning towards using glass or metal bottles and packaging as opposed to plastic and paper.
Doron Lavee, Uri Regev and Amos Zemel. “The effect of recycling price uncertainty on municipal waste management choices.” Journal of Environmental Management 90.11 (2009): 3599-3606. Web. 27 Mar. 2010.
Fuzhan Nasiri and Gordon Huang. “A fuzzy decision aid model for environmental performance assessment in waste recycling.” Environmental Modeling and Software 23.6 (2008): 677-689. Web. 27 Mar. 2010.
S.M. Al-Salem, P. Lettieri and J. Baeyens. “Recycling and recovery routes of plastic solid waste (PSW): A review.” Waste Management 29.10 (2009): 2625-2643. Web. 27 Mar. 2010.
Recycling--Does It Really Help?
Figure 1. Used paper products waiting to be recycled at a Paper Recycling Plant
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE—the official motto for creating a healthier environment. Today, everyone is focused on recycling goods but what about reducing consumption, reusing products and manufacturing products with the capability to outlast a warranty? Recycling is the least important of the three “R’s.” While reducing consumption and reusing products actually decreases the amount of resources—including energy—used, recycling just barely delays the inevitable exploitation of our natural resources. Many times, recycling is not even practical for products such as paper and plastic, which can generally only be down-cycled. Not only are these products down-cycled but the cost to recycle these products can outweigh the feasibility of recycling the products at all. Recycling also requires more fossil fuels for the increase in transportation of waste. “On average, extensive recycling is 35 percent more costly than conventional disposal, and basic curbside recycling is 55 percent more costly than conventional disposal [ECOWORLD, 2008].” Cost also accounts for resources used in the recycling and producing process.
In an article written by the University of Oregon, the process of recycling newspaper was described. The paper goes through a chemical wash to dissolve the ink and goes through a bleaching process. Since the pulp loses its strength, fresh pulp is added to the mix [University of Oregon, 1998]. The chemicals used for de-inking and whitening the paper is hardly environmentally-friendly. Detergent is used to remove the ink from the paper while hydrogen peroxide is used to bleach the paper. Both chemicals are recognized as relatively harmful to the environment. In a test conducted by the EPA, more toxic chemicals were found in the recycling process for paper than the virgin manufacturing process for paper [ECOWORLD, 2008]. The different grades of paper and making sure they are properly sorted also hinders the effectiveness of recycling. Only certain types of paper can be recycled into graphic paper or packaging. The process for using recycled paper and for using virgin paper is very similar, meaning that it does not necessarily save any energy in the production process [paperonline, 2010]. Of all the paper sorted for recycling, only about 55% of it is actually recycled [Library of Economics and Liberty, 2008].
There is also a wide misconception about recycling plastics. Like paper, used plastic can only be down-cycled. Only about 9% plastic sorted for recycling is actually recycled [Library of Economics and Liberty, 2008]. Even when plastic is recycled, a considerable percentage of virgin plastic must be added in the manufacturing process. In Berkeley, CA, none of the plastic sorted for recycling is actually used for that purpose. Much of the used plastic that is processed is manufactured into 100% non-recyclable materials such as plastic “wood.” Plastic recycling programs also allow consumers to believe that they can buy more goods since their packaging will be recycled anyway, ultimately leading to an increase in waste as opposed to a decrease. It even costs more to process used plastic as opposed to virgin plastic [Ecology Center]. The “chasing arrows” stamp signifying a plastic’s recyclability is also entirely misleading considering it has more to do with identifying the type of plastic in the bottle or packaging as opposed to its environmental consciousness. Many of the bottles with this symbol cannot actually be recycled. Companies are allowed to place this stamp on a plastic bottle or container even if it can only be recycled in very few locations or settings, considering the stamp is not regulated by any form of government [sustainablog, 2007]. In a peer-reviewed journal, researchers stated that the plastic recycling process is currently pursued as a “cradle-to-grave” process and that there are steps that should be taken to change it to a “cradle-to-cradle” process so that fossil-fuels are not completely consumed [S.M. Al-Salem, P. Lettieri and J. Baeyens, 2009].
For aluminum, while 40% of used aluminum can be recycled to make new products, it is being used considerably less than plastic due to cost-effectiveness. However, recycling aluminum saves about 92% of energy that would be used extracting the raw material from bauxite ore. Manufacturing aluminum into new products also get the new products back to the consumer market in as little as 6 weeks. The only other issue with using recycled aluminum is that it must be painstakingly cleared of any impurities before it can be used [EPA, 2009]. Other metals can be just as eco-effective as aluminum.
Glass is the most efficiently and effectively recycled material compared to paper, plastics, and metals. Unlike the other materials, glass is genuinely 100% recyclable—no down-cycling—and can be recycled continually. It takes less energy to heat than virgin glass because it melts at a lower temperature. It also makes up approximately 80% – 90% of the material used to manufacture new glass products and can be placed quickly back “on the shelves [earth 911, 2010].” The EPA reported that while only about 23% of glass was recycled, between 1980 and 2008, the amount of glass that is recycled has increased by 2.05 million tons. Used glass is also less expensive than virgin glass, making it more energy-efficient and cost effective [EPA, 2010].
In conclusion, while paper and plastic products are most widely used, they have the least ability to be recycled. The labeling on plastic bottles is also very misleading. In addition, while these products have the ability to be recycled, they use up more resources than just disposing of them and using virgin materials. As a solution, society needs to focus more on the first two words in the recycling motto: reduce and reuse. Also, we should start leaning towards using glass or metal bottles and packaging as opposed to plastic and paper.
REFERENCES
“Aluminum.” EPA. 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 27 Mar. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/alum.htm>.
Benjamin, Daniel K. “Recycling Myths: Smothered in Garbage vs. More Landfill Capacity than Ever.” ECOWORLD. 2008. Web. 27 Mar. 2010. <http://www.ecoworld.com/animals/recycling-myths-smothered-in-garabage-vs-more-landfill-capacity-than-ever.html>.
Doron Lavee, Uri Regev and Amos Zemel. “The effect of recycling price uncertainty on municipal waste management choices.” Journal of Environmental Management 90.11 (2009): 3599-3606. Web. 27 Mar. 2010.
Fuzhan Nasiri and Gordon Huang. “A fuzzy decision aid model for environmental performance assessment in waste recycling.” Environmental Modeling and Software 23.6 (2008): 677-689. Web. 27 Mar. 2010.
“Glass.” EPA. 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/glass.htm>.
“How is Glass Recycled?” Earth 911. 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2010. <http://earth911.com/recycling/glass/how-is-glass-recycled/>.
“Metal Recycling.” Far West Fibers, Inc. 2009. Web. 27 Mar. 2010. <http://www.farwestfibers.com/Products-and-Services/Metal.html>.
“Plastics Task Force: Seven Misconceptions about Plastic and Plastic Recycling.” Ecology Center. Web. 27 Mar. 2010. <http://www.ecologycenter.org/ptf/misconceptions.html>.
Shaw, Jane S. “Recycling: The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics.” Library of Economics and Liberty. 2008. Web. 27 Mar 2010. <http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Recycling.html>.
S.M. Al-Salem, P. Lettieri and J. Baeyens. “Recycling and recovery routes of plastic solid waste (PSW): A review.” Waste Management 29.10 (2009): 2625-2643. Web. 27 Mar. 2010.
“The Recycling Process After Collection.” University of Oregon. 14 Jul. 1998. Web. 27 Mar. 2010. <http://www.uoregon.edu/~recycle/after_collection.html>.
Weatherholtz, Kyle. “Recycling Misconceptions – Part 1 – ‘All plastic containers with a recycling logo are recyclable.’” sustainablog. 27 Nov. 2007. Web. 27 Mar. 2010. <http://blog.sustainablog.org/recycling-misconceptions-part-1-all-plastic-containers-with-a-recycling-logo-are-recyclable/>.